Search form

Search form

The Tahlequah Daily Press reviews recent reports about potential exposure to bisphenol A in consumer products that put people at risk of developing asthma, coronary heart disease and reproductive mutations. The newspaper quotes the American Chemistry Council as saying minimal exposure does not generate a risk to human health.

Related Summaries

A European Food Safety Authority report shows there is "no health concern for any age group" from dietary or aggregated exposure to bisphenol A. "BPA poses no health risk to consumers because current exposure to the chemical is too low to cause harm," EFSA said. The highest estimates for daily human exposure are at least three times lower than the recommended daily intake level, it noted.

The U.S. food industry is discovering that it could take years of research costing millions to locate, remove and find a substitute for bisphenol A, a chemical under scrutiny by regulators for its alleged health risks, including reproductive disorders and cancer. "What we're hearing is, the stuff is just omnipresent," said Randy Hartnell, whose company has spent about $10,000 on lab tests trying to determine the source of BPA in its canned product.

The Oregon Senate environment panel voted, 3-2, in favor of a bill that would ban bisphenol A from baby bottles and sippy cups, beginning in July 2011. A provision that would have extended the ban to the plastic liner inside infant formula containers was struck down. Business groups opposed the BPA ban on plastic liner, citing a lack of adequate substitutes and the confusion that could ensue about which children's foods are affected.

If the Food and Drug Administration wants to dig deeper into the possible health effects of bisphenol A, it should evaluate real science instead of engaging in scare tactics, argues this Wall Street Journal editorial. "BPA has suddenly become ground zero in the endless enviro war against chemicals," as the FDA has suggested limiting exposure to the chemical while at the same time saying it does not pose a risk at low levels.

A National Toxicology Program report indicates that bisphenol A, found in plastic for baby bottles and soda cans, may pose a risk to the health of fetuses and children. The study is the final version of a report issued as a draft in April. The American Chemistry Council responded by emphasizing that "there is no direct evidence that exposure to bisphenol A adversely affects human reproduction or development."